The Occupy Wall Street Movement, which began in New York City, has inspired similar protests in over 100 cities around the country and has reached the international community as well. According the their website, The Occupy Wall Street Movement is, " a leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%."

The movement claims that it has taken its motivation from the "Arab Spring" movement of the past year in order to encourage people to join their nonviolent revolution.

This past week, Providence became the latest city to organize protests. Occupy Providence has drawn hundreds of protestors to Burnside Park, many who say they will stay as long as it takes for their voices to be heard. Dozens of tents have gone up, and thus far the protestors have remained peaceful and no arrests have been made.

Like the Occupy Wall Street protestors, Occupy Providence does not have a clear agenda or goal in mind, they operate under the vague principle that that will continue to perform acts of peaceful civil disobedience until there is a society built, "for, by, and of the people."

Shaelynn T. period 6

10/17/2011 04:56:43 am

It's awesome that people want peace and no violence, but sitting there " protesting" over it, that won't do much either. Making a point is fine, but this whole organization thing these people are doing isn't protesting first of all, it's more like a 24/7 block party, and second of all, if they were actually protesting, and making a point, right or not, the government could choose to listen, or choose not to. Sometimes protesting may be the only way to get attention to an important issue, but this is pretty pointless. I don't know, maybe it'll go somewhere, but right now it seems pretty much like a time to sit there and do nothing but complain about a problem that isn't there.

Monica D. Period 6

10/17/2011 05:55:58 am

Well this is a diffrent form of protesting? I agree with Shaelynn it is more like a Block Party. If they want there point to be proven or even to be heard they have to not only protest but use other forms to let the government know. There basically wasting time, more like hanging out than protesting.

JZ Period 4

10/17/2011 05:57:21 am

If they want a society built for, by and of the people, then "the people" should actually start building their dream instead of just sitting there protesting. Society consists of "the people" that make it, so it is up to them to act. If their enthusiasm about protesting was used to do SOMETHING, they can actually accomplish a lot. It is a pity that they have not decided what to do.

Dominique Johnson

10/17/2011 09:00:14 am

It would seem that these people know what they are protesting, simply not what to do about it. The saying, 'the rich get richer and the poorer get poorer' is true. When a person has property passed down in the family, they have a way to make money. They can sell property, then buy a house after the bank takes it from someone. They wait for a recession and the house price goes back up, they rent it out to someone and bam, instant cash that didn't need to do much other than let their money work for them. They also get tax brakes because they are rich, while the poor get none. This has been a constant problem in America and these people, while unable to do anything about the problem, are doing their best to let it be known that no matter what the problem is there.

NG Period 6

10/17/2011 09:15:51 am

The fact that people are protesting on Wall Street is amazing. Simply stated, the greed and corruption that takes place on Wall Street is ridiculous. All Americans have freedom of speech and if this is what they choose to do with it then that is fine with me. It doesn’t matter if they do not achieve their goal. If the Government chooses not to listen to them at least the protestors tried to do what was right. Also, I disagree with Monica and Shae. Protesting is actually very efficient. If people wrote letters or made petitions to the government whenever they did not agree with something, then there would be a great deal of unread mail in the Government’s trash bins. Besides, when you protest you receive a lot of attention. As a result, you have the chance of more people agreeing with your perspective and joining you. Do you think that the people in Egypt would have successfully overthrown their president if they wrote angry letters?

Vence V. Period 6

10/17/2011 09:30:11 am

The protesting started on Wall Street and now it has reached Providence. So many people are protesting. Just what are they protesting about exactly. Without a good reason to me it looks like they're a big group just camping.

S.C. Period 3

10/17/2011 10:28:41 am

I agree that protesting is a good thing but it hasn't really gained any ground and nothing is being done really

Shailin Period 6

10/17/2011 10:56:36 am

I think that they a clear reason on why they are protesting. They are just kind of chilling in test looking like they are having a family gathering. If they had a clear reason everyone would know why they were there. They could of had signs or somethin resembling why they were there. Also, there was no leader. How can you make any decisions without a leader?

Anneliese period 6

10/18/2011 06:13:37 am

I don't think that anyone has a clear reason as to why they are protesting. From what I've heard and seen, it looks like a bunch of people just hanging out. The people protesting don't seem to really know what their intentions are for protesting. This isn't really making an impact on the government, but it is good for the media.

Sara Period 2

10/18/2011 06:15:12 am

I don't understand why you would want to protest with no reason in mind. That just seems like a waste of time to me. I bet they have a thought of why they want to be there it's just not any actual good reasons. Nothing is obviously being done so just go home, stop wasting your time.

Danielle Period 3

10/18/2011 06:48:20 am

I was down for water fire the other night and saw the signs and the protesters in their tents and such. I also know a lot of people who have gone down there. They aren't really there for anything but if they think they are making a difference then by all means go for it. It seems like they all want different things out of it.

Danielle Period 3 (2)

10/18/2011 06:56:51 am

Well actually they are down there to protest the income inequality between CEO's and the workers all the problems with the banks and such ect. ect. but people down there all have different reasons why they are there.

Sean per 4

10/18/2011 07:52:31 am

I feel that this protesting is completely pointless. Nothing is going to change regardless of this 'protesting,' the government won't pay any heed to it, but see it as a nuisance occurring and wasting their time to make more money. This is all about money, and judging by the economy for the past few decades, nothing has/will be done about it for some time to come.

Greg G Period 6

10/18/2011 08:30:32 am

Just using common sense, if you dont really know why you are protesting, then what is the point of protesting at all? I dont have a clue...

Elisabeth R per6

10/18/2011 09:08:45 am

I can sort of see what they are talking about. It also has a striking resemblance to the french revolution. So nobody go dusting out the guillotine, please.

Julianna

10/18/2011 10:10:21 am

Julianna Period 2

10/18/2011 10:13:19 am

I feel like this protesting is very random and a waste of time. They aren't protesting for any reason which is very different. These people are just wasting their times protesting over nothing in particular. They aren't going to get anything out of their so called "protests", just the satifaction of protesting. I guess if that makes them feel acomplished then yay them...

Rebecca P. Period 6

10/18/2011 10:53:24 am

I just don't understand people

If they don't know what they want, then no one can give it to them. There's no point in this. They're just getting in the way and making themselves look kind of dumb.

Peter G. Period 3

10/19/2011 10:13:28 am

I think that all the protesting going on is good, but it would be better if they had some kind of goal or something though

Cody period 3

10/20/2011 06:52:30 am

To be honest the wall street and other incidents like it in the country dont really concern me in any way

Ehamm per. 2

10/20/2011 08:58:21 am

I think it's great the way these people are protesting, it shows that violence does not have to take place, in order to be heard. All you really need is perseverance, and it seems to me like these people have it. They don't need violence, to be heard, clearly they are getting publicity if all of these news papers and news rooms are getting their story. The only major thing that really could be don't to help these people is a game plan. If they want to be not only heard but have their opinion respected and accepted they need to form a game plan. A game plan that clearly expresses exactly what they are protesting. They need to be strong with what they want and no one there that is protesting should say they aren't sure what they are protesting. Everybody needs to be on the same page.

Sam 3

10/20/2011 09:08:43 am

I love how they have no idea of what they're protesting about. This one cracks me up.

Rakel period 1

10/20/2011 11:40:21 am

I think it's good that they want to protest peacefully but I think it is useless for them to be there and not even knowing what they are protesting against. I feel like some people protest just to protest and that they don't even know what they are protesting against half of the time.

Heather Period 1

10/21/2011 07:41:06 am

I don't have a problem with protesting and i think that if they do it peacefully. However, i don't see the point if you protest for something you know nothing about, or don't even know what your protesting about.

Evan B Period 6

10/21/2011 01:39:33 pm

There are probably some people occupying Providence that are actually trying to make a difference. But I think the rest are probably looking for a big party to go to, they just want to get some recognition because it is the most that they have gotten in a long time.